Careers / Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers

Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers — Career Decision Dashboard

United States

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Median annual wage

$60,070

United States, 2025

Employment

86,340

United States, 2025

Typical education

Post-Secondary Certificate

Job Zone 3

Skills identified

35

10 related careers

Career overview

Install, program, maintain, and repair security and fire alarm wiring and equipment. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes.

O*NET code
49-2098.00
Job zone
3
Experience required
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

Typical tasks

  • Install, maintain, or repair security systems, alarm devices, or related equipment, following blueprints of electrical layouts and building plans.
  • Prepare documents, such as invoices or warranties.
  • Provide customers with cost estimates for equipment installation.
  • Mount and fasten control panels, door and window contacts, sensors, or video cameras, and attach electrical and telephone wiring to connect components.
  • Demonstrate systems for customers and explain details, such as the causes and consequences of false alarms.
  • Test and repair circuits and sensors, following wiring and system specifications.
  • Feed cables through access holes, roof spaces, or cavity walls to reach fixture outlets, positioning and terminating cables, wires, or strapping.
  • Examine systems to locate problems, such as loose connections or broken insulation.

Choose a location

Salary analysis — United States

$38,800
10th
$47,820
25th
$60,070
Median
$73,690
75th
$81,150
90th

10th percentile

$38,800

25th percentile

$47,820

75th percentile

$73,690

90th percentile

$81,150

Most important skills

  • Installation3.4
  • Critical Thinking3.4
  • Speaking3.4
  • Active Listening3.3
  • Complex Problem Solving3.1
  • Reading Comprehension3.1
  • Quality Control Analysis3.1
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.1
  • Operations Monitoring3.1
  • Troubleshooting3.0
  • Repairing3.0
  • Monitoring3.0

What skills do you need?

Select the skills you already have

Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.

Skill coverage

0%

0 of 13 identified skills

Matched

0

Missing

13

Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.

Skills to develop

SkillImportanceRequired levelYour levelGap
Critical Thinking3.43.5Not selected3.5
Installation3.43.1Not selected3.1
Speaking3.43.0Not selected3.0
Active Listening3.33.1Not selected3.1
Reading Comprehension3.13.3Not selected3.3
Troubleshooting3.03.3Not selected3.3
Quality Control Analysis3.13.1Not selected3.1
Complex Problem Solving3.13.0Not selected3.0
Judgment and Decision Making3.13.0Not selected3.0
Monitoring3.03.1Not selected3.1
Operations Monitoring3.12.9Not selected2.9
Time Management3.02.9Not selected2.9
Repairing3.02.8Not selected2.8

Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.

Related careers

How salary varies by location

LocationMedianEmploymentYear
San Jose, CA$81,9803202025
Salem, OR$81,500702025
Kahului, HI$81,340302025
Worcester, MA$80,4802025
AK$79,8701102025
Anchorage, AK$79,8701002025
San Francisco, CA$79,3501,0302025
Boston, MA$78,5601,3302025
MA$78,5301,6902025
Portland, OR$76,6307302025
Vallejo, CA$76,390702025
RI$76,3202402025
Seattle, WA$75,9101,0002025
OR$75,7109502025
CT$75,4105402025
Providence, RI$75,3503602025
New Haven, CT$75,0801202025
Bremerton, WA$73,990302025
Hartford, CT$73,7402202025
WA$72,9501,6702025
All locations with published data

Career transition paths

Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.

Build a transition comparison

Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0.

Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).

Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.